Frank Torres
Orlando Sentinel City Hall reporter Mark Schlueb announced this morning that he will be leaving the newspaper business after 20 years to accept a position with the University of Central Florida, reports Orlando-Politics.com.
“Big changes ahead for 2015, you guys. As some of you have already heard, I’m leaving the newspaper business after 20 years or so. At the end of the month, I’ll be starting a new job at my alma mater, the University of Central Florida, where I’ll be doing some media relations work. Wish me luck,” Schlueb said in a statement on social media.
Schlueb covered the City Council, which included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office. After hearing the news, Mayor Dyer visited the Sentinel offices and proclaimed January 21st as “Mark Schlueb day” in a gesture that was described as nice but sort of a roast in proclamation form.
His coverage of city government was first-class, from the recent dispute with the ride-sharing service Uber to downtown Orlando’s booming growth over the last few years. During busy election cycles, his coverage of the congressional races in Central Florida was the best in the region. Based on the feedback I receive from talking to often critical lawmakers and operatives, his coverage was the most fair among his colleagues in the area.
Schlueb’s the latest political reporter to leave the Sentinel. County government reporter David Damron and Tallahassee bureau chief Aaron Deslatte both left in 2014.
